How Positive Self-Talk can Help Wrestlers

United States Naval AcademyImage: usna.edu

An engineer who received his education and training from the United States Naval Academy, John Guandolo is currently with the Strategic Engagement Group, National Security where he serves as the vice president for strategic planning. During his time at the United States Naval Academy, John Guandolo was a member of the wrestling team.

Wrestling is a physical sport which is why a lot of time is spent on preparing the body to endure the tackles and grapples that are expected in the sport. However, as experienced wrestlers would agree, mental preparation is as important, if not more than, the physical preparation before a wrestling match.

How do wrestlers mentally prepare themselves? One aspect of this mental preparation is positive self-talk. How wrestlers talk to themselves is one of the greatest influencers of their mental state before and during the match, and in fact, it could make or break a match.

When engaging in positive self-talk, wrestlers seek to eliminate negative thoughts that could distract the mind and hamper the body from performing optimally. Wrestlers may also reinforce their confidence by reminding themselves of their own reasons for winning. Moreover, wrestlers need to train themselves to convert any negative thought into something constructive.

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Author: John Guandolo

John Guandolo, a counterterrorism consultant at Strategic Engagement Group, Inc., also contributes his time to the Centennial Institute as a Strategic Threats Consultant. The institute, part of Colorado Christian University, works to promote the public understanding of freedom, family, and faith issues. This is accomplished through research, policy analysis, and seminars and conferences with students, staff, faculty, and outside experts such as John Guandolo. He also co-authored Shariah: The Threat To America: An Exercise In Competitive Analysis (Report of Team B II).
As Vice President of Strategic Planning and Execution at Strategic Engagement Group, John Guandolo assists law enforcement, government, military, and intelligent community leaders on how to prepare for and respond to terrorist threats. Prior to accepting a position with Strategic Engagement Group, he served the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a Subject Matter Expert. During his time in this role, he developed the agency's first training course on the threat of Muslim extremism and issues posed by the rise of Islamic law. John Guandolo joined the agency as a Special Agent, where he led SWAT team operations, participated in investigations, and served as an Advanced Capability Medic. His accolades include two Awards for Investigative Excellence, given by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and the Defender of the Homeland Award, given by United States Senators John Kyl and Joe Lieberman.
John Guandolo graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1989 and was a Company Commander during his senior year. He is a member of the Force Recon Association, a non-profit fraternal organization that promotes the fellowship of those who have served in military reconnaissance units. John Guandolo also holds membership in the Knights of Columbus, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, and the Order of St. Crispin. He enjoys hiking, competing in triathlons, and camping.
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